The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) and Republic Bank will host the 6th edition of the Tech Hub Islands Summit (T.H.I.S.) on July 1st – July 2nd, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The event will serve as an important platform to highlight and accelerate digital transformation in the private and public sectors, and to advance the nation’s tech sector. In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and ever-evolving challenges, this year’s theme, “BREAKTHROUGH” signifies a powerful convergence of innovation and determination to overcome obstacles and achieve transformative success in the digital age.

Breakthrough encapsulates the collective drive to shatter barriers and propel forward. It underscores the importance of breaking through limitations, embracing bold ideas, forging new paths shaping the future of technology, redefining what's possible, and leading the charge toward a future where technology knows no bounds. T.H.I.S. 2024 will also highlight examples of BREAKTHROUGHs in companies, thereby providing practical examples of digital transformation that companies can adopt themselves.

“We cannot afford to take our feet off the pedal in the pursuit of our digital transformation goals,” said Nirad Tewarie, CEO of AMCHAM T&T. “T.H.I.S. has the opportunity to catalyze the development of a local Tech industry and put T&T and the wider Caribbean on the global Tech map. That’s a goal we must never abandon even as we address other challenges impacting our nation.”

“AMCHAM T&T is encouraged with the work being done in tech both in the private and public sectors. There is a lot happening in the private sector that people don’t know about. This conference is an opportunity to highlight some of this. We expect to hear about some of the advancements in the public sector as well. However, the gaps around having increased collaboration among all stakeholders need to be addressed,” Tewarie said. “Building a thriving national tech ecosystem requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders. By working together, we can create an environment that fosters innovation, nurtures local talent, and positions Trinidad and Tobago as a competitive player in the global tech industry. This collaborative approach will drive economic growth and ensure that we remain at the forefront of technological advancement.”

Furthering the partnership established with AMCHAM T&T in 2022, Republic Bank continues as the title sponsor of the pivotal Summit. Vice President of Republic Bank, P. Vic Salickram, commented, “Republic Bank is pleased to once again work along with AMCHAM Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate this meeting of minds in the regional tech space. Trinidad and Tobago has been advancing in our pursuits for digital transformation in both the public and private sector and we believe that with the collaborative efforts of all industry players, we are steadily making progress towards the technological breakthrough that will transform T&T into a more digital-centric nation.

Also, Carina Cockburn, Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank and Platinum Sponsor for THIS 2024: BREAKTHROUGH highlighted the economic gains associated with the development of the local tech industry. “According to some estimates, the global tech sector was valued at over $5 trillion in 2020. Therefore, the development of a local tech industry is a worthy goal that will contribute to generating high-value jobs, foreign exchange, and economic growth,” Cockburn said. 

“It certainly will take the combined efforts of multiple stakeholders to build a vibrant and dynamic tech sector along with wide-ranging capacity building in digital skills, significant investment in R&D, and a supportive regulatory environment. Continued deployment of an accompanying robust cybersecurity framework and tools will also be of critical importance to ensure that the tech sector can grow and flourish in T&T.” 

Meanwhile, Abraham Smith, CEO of Digicel and Platinum Sponsor of THIS 2024 acknowledged the power of technology to transform lives. “Disruptive innovation is the engine that drives technological progress and breakthroughs,” Smith said. “At Digicel, innovation is in our DNA, and we are proud to once again support the Tech Hub Islands Summit (T.H.I.S.) and its objectives. Since our launch in 2006, we've continually embraced innovation to empower our customers and our support for initiatives like T.H.I.S. reflects our deep belief in the power of technology to transform lives. We are excited for the 2024 edition of this program and remain committed to partnering with all key stakeholders in Trinidad & Tobago to push the boundaries of digital transformation, shaping a brighter future for all.” 

The two-day Summit will open with feature addresses from Senator the Honourable, Hassel Bacchus - Minister of Digital Transformation on Day One, and the Honourable Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Minister of Planning and Development on Day Two. 

THIS 2024: BREAKTHROUGH will feature both international and local expert speakers such as: 

Carlos Andres Neva Vargas – Senior Customer Engineer - Public Sector LATAM (Google) – KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Karen Warnick-Elinan – Regional Sales Manager, Public Sector (Entrust) – KEYNOTE SPEAKER

P. Vic. Salickram – Group Vice President (Republic Financial Holdings Limited) &
Vice President (Republic Bank Limited) 

Dr. Nicholas Fuller – Transformative Global Leader and Seasoned Innovator (IBM)

Dalton Fowles – Country Manager (Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean) – (Mastercard)

Carina Cockburn – Country Representative (Inter-American Development Bank)

Abraham Smith – CEO (Digicel Trinidad & Tobago)

David Green – VP, Sales, North America (Hitachi Systems Security) 

Raees Rahim – Chief of Technology (NOVO International)

Darren Mohammed – Director, Microsoft Azure (Microsoft)

Other companies on the agenda include Visa, Virtana, Incus Services, Guardian Group, PwC, and First Atlantic Commerce.

THIS 2024: BREAKTHROUGH will feature expert analysis and insights on the following cutting-edge and innovative topics:

1.     Getting it Done: How companies are adopting and integrating emerging technologies

2.     Catalyzing Change: The evolving role of FinTech in driving economic empowerment and inclusive economic growth

3.     Getting Digital-Ready: Leadership lessons to future-proof the digital workplace

4.     Hacked! Strategies to securing the future and building cyber-resilience

5.     Data, the Strategic Asset: Harnessing data-driven decision-making and analytics

6.     e-Government Evolution: Unlocking digital potential

7.     A.I.m to Disrupt! Tech's potential to disrupt traditional business models and create new opportunities

THIS 2024: BREAKTHROUGH is sponsored by:

Title Sponsor: Republic Bank
Platinum Sponsors – Digicel; IDB 
Gold Sponsors – Eximbank; Mastercard 
Silver Sponsors – PwC; The Trinidad and Tobago Financial Centre (TTIFC), Hitachi, S.I. Digital, Balroops Group
Session Sponsors – First Atlantic Commerce; VISA
Coffee Break Sponsor – Rod Plus Solutions

AMCHAM T&T extends our gratitude to Republic Bank and all our sponsors for their continued support and partnership for this event which we believe will help increase the advocacy and investments needed to build the local tech ecosystem.

THIS 2024: Breakthrough will occur at the Hyatt Regency on July 1st and July 2nd. We invite you to visit the official conference website at techislands.net for more information on the agenda, ticket prices, and registration details.

For further questions or comments please contact: Nirad Tewarie, CEO AMCHAM T&T at niradtewarie@amchamtt.com.

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